The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-01

subject. as it seemed to be the understand
ing among them that it should not be talked
about When they told me what they did,
they cautioned me against referring to 1t in
the presence of the sons OF Gen. PoSey So
far as | know, the men never referred to the
matter in any way whatever. The resem-
blance Of the son, whom attended on his
deathbed, to the pictures we have of Wash
ington was certainly very remarkable. He
had the same high forehead and prominent
features"
Recently this story, as told in Shawnee
town, was briefly related to Mr.. Ainsworth
r. Spofford, who for many years has had
charge of the Congressional Library in
Washington. Mr.. Spofford is the intimate
friend Of Bancroft, and probably has read
and heard more about Washington than
has any other living man except the hlsto-
rian.
"Have they anything but tradition to base
il upon?' asked Mr.. Spofford.
The narrator was bound to say that it
was all tradition so far as Shawneetown
folks were concerned.
aft is possible there may be something in
the Port Folio" suggested Mr.. Spoford.
Probable nobody but walking encyclo-
pedia would have though Of looking III the
Port Folio for the desired information.
How many readers of today ever saw a
-
| it? Yet the Port Folio was in 1924 what the
Century, the Atlantic, or the North -4nleri-
can is to-day.
In the old leather-bound volume of sew
oral numbers of the Port Folio for 1924
onnaars a sketch of Gen. Posey, interest
| inc for what it contains, and also interest
| inc for some things it does not contain.
8Thomas Posey." says the anonymous
writer. twas born of respectable parentage
Il Ni1ariro nm a
the year l75O
In 1850 George Washington was a young
man of Is. His father had been burned out
ON Ponies creek, in Maryland, short dis
| tonce from the Potomac, and had moved to
q farm near Fredericksburg. But George
| was living with his brother Lawrence at
Mount Vernon, on the banks OF the Poto-
mac the elder having undertaken to bring
mn and care for the younger. AS the heir OF
! this brother, George Washington sllbse-
| uuentlv came into possession oil Mount yer.
non According to the biographies, WASH,
! inoton in these years of his early manhood
| spent the summers IN active ouI-uoor me-
! and winters with his books.
few months after the date given for
the birth of Thomas Posey there came a
break in the monotOny of life at Mount
| Vernon Lawrence Washington suddenly
! dena,ted for the West Indies, taking George
| with him The usual explanation OF TINS
! t,in Given in the biographies is that Law
/ rnrce went on account OF i'll health. Why
| he took his brother not made clear. In the
| barbados George Washington contracted
smallpox, and the pits i'll hisface were dis
| cernible to his death.
All that has heen published of the antece'
dents of Thomas Posey is embraced III the
simple sentence quoted above. His biogra
nher is lust as brief in speaking of hisyouth
| The sketch proceeds
s'In 1869 BE had received tolerable ENG
lish education, and, as he was to inherit nc
fortune. his enterprising spirit induced him
| nj that early age to seek u residence IN the
Western part of Virginia near the IRON
tiers" -,
Nv turning to any history the reader will
| find in the period including 1903 Washing
ton was making frequent visits to the west.
ern part of Virginia, and spending mucn OF
his time there looking after interests he had
acquired. He had some years previously
married the Widow Gusts, and IN referring
to this event several Of the biographefS
sneak of Washington as having hal one OF
! two affairs which had turned out uniortu'
In ira trouble with the Indians broke out
ON the western Virginia frontier, the saya
ees being melted to hostilities by British
ernissaries Washington was prominent IN
! the cnmpaign which was inaugurated. The
/ sketch OF Thomas Posey says that young
man received an appointment IN the Sl'aal'